Social Isolation: the Modern Plague

When Carol and Les bought a new car, they had no idea the adventure they were about to embark on. After 15 years of being a dedicated Routes volunteer, Henk needed to retire from driving and sell his vehicle. When Carol and Les asked to purchase his car , he joked that he would only sell it to them if they promised to volunteer for Routes. Henk knew that Carol and Les were an outgoing couple, who were easy to chat with and very understanding; they would make the perfect Routes volunteers. It seems that Henk’s conditions were more of an incentive than a deterrent because t he very next day, Carol and Les bought the car . Their first drive was, of course, straight to Routes and they have been volunteering ever since . “Henk is thrilled!” says Carol , “Routes is a necessary job, people need our help and this is one way we can help them out and make others feel good. ” Since coming on board to the Routes team a month ago, Carol and Les drive about three to four times a week – sometimes two rides in one day! In their time volunteering , they have helped Routes clients to the hospital , medical appointments, and to the food bank. We really enjoy driving . Everyone has a story, and they’re always so thankful after you give them a ride. It really is a service that’s needed and necessary.” Another perk of driving is that Carol and Les get to know their way around the community better. “We’re new to town,” says Carol. “We’ve only been here for three years. Everyone seems to know where they’re going here! While we still use the GPS, it’s nice to start to know where things are , ourselves.” Carol encourages those with extra time to volunteer with Routes. She loves the flexibility of the schedule, and the ability to accept and say no to rides if she’s too busy. With Routes, you drive only when you’re free and to places you feel comfortable going “ I think there’s a lot of people out there who want to give their time and they don ’t know where they’ll be valued,” says Carol. “ At Routes, you’re performing something that is needed. It doesn’t just make you feel good – it makes others feel good. You have rewards on both ends. The driver gets the reward of taking them, and the client gets the reward of being taken where they need to be.” If you’re interested in volunteering, or learning more about Routes Connecting Communities, visit their website today at routescc.org

Bill Shores remembers the days where word of mouth was the only way to get the word out about an organization like Routes Connecting Communities. Building a non-profit back in 1989 was much different than today, and the call to get volunteers and riders for the transportation services was no easy feat. “We advertised in the local paper and we relied on word of mouth,” reflects Bill. “We even put signs up in stores to find drivers. We made ourselves known in the community, and then we started advertising that we were able to take people to places where they wanted to go, without too much money changing hands. We even drove some people for free.” A group of local citizens dedicated to helping address the challenges of transportation evolved, driving people of all ages and circumstances, just like Routes continues to do today. Bill was treasurer for over 17 years, attending executive meetings and helping shape the growth of Routes. His favorite memories were working with others, all dedicated to the same cause. “I loved meeting the volunteer drivers and I enjoyed working with everyone on the executive team,” says Bill. “We figured we were doing something useful, and we enjoyed working together. It was a great thing.” Catherine King Ward has been on the Board of Directors for five years , and she shares the same spirit conveyed by Bill, even though much has changed over the years as Routes evolved. Catherine has a personal connection to Routes, having found Routes when she needed support driving her cousin to and from cancer treatments when he moved from Ottawa to get treated at the Newmarket Cancer Centre. “I tried my best to be his main form of transportation, but I just couldn’t do it all the time,” says Catherine. “I was looking for an alternative way to get him to his treatment, other than putting him in a cab. I stumbled across Routes and was really impressed. One thing led to another, and I applied to become a Board member. I haven’t looked back since.” Catherine would like to see Routes finding ways to grow the program and finding new partnerships. She is focused on spreading the word about how Routes can help not just provide transportation, but provide advice and services to other organizations. “Our base is Georgina, but we want to grow into other municipalities such as Newmarket and Stouffville and beyond because we have the expertise and the dispatch experience,” says Catherine. “We want to help agencies that don’t have that piece of expertise and we want to encourage them to partner with us. We have the drivers and they have volunteers that might want to drive. We can help other agencies with the ir own structure internally with the dispatch piece , and we can take some of the burden off of other non-profits as well .” Routes aims to connect communities and help those who need a hand, and thanks to the people behind the organization, they are doing just that. If you are interested in learning more about Routes, or getting involved to volunteer, drive, or donate, visit their website today.

Ethel knows no bounds when it comes to being a great friend. Just over 30 years ago she immigrated to Canada, and while she was making herself a new home here, she also made a new friend too. For privacy sake we will refer to Ethel’s friend as Mary. Ethel and Mary share a bond that has strengthened through each milestone of their lives; a sisterhood expanding over decades. Their friendship is an important one, so of course regular visits are not an option but a necessity. The pair would visit one another weekly and even after Mary moved to Cedarville Lodge in Keswick, Ethel continued to drive down from Sutton to see her close friend just as often. After being diagnosed with epilepsy, Ethel did begin to question if and how this condition might affect her ability to drive. Then, while driving home one Sunday she had a terrifying experience of blacking out and awakening to a knock on her driver side window by a very concerned stranger. She had no memory of what had happened. Fortunately, no one had been injured and no other vehicles had been involved. It was following that experience, that Ethel made a life changing decision to sell her car and turn in her driver’s license. In Ethel’s words, “I didn’t want to be responsible for an innocent person’s death or injury, never mind my own. So, I took myself off the road. I sold my car and handed in my license that week” Ethel began taking the bus to get in and around town. Her friends and family also helped her run errands, go grocery shopping, and make it to veterinary appointments with her furry companion. Though her weekly visits with Mary became challenging to continue. It seemed to Ethel, that the bus was the only reliable mode of transportation that could get her to her friend each week, but the long and winding Cedarville driveway was very difficult for her to walk. Luckily, Ethel found Routes Connecting Communities. Routes Connecting Communities provides safe and reliable volunteer-based transportation to community members in need. “Routes helps get me to Cedarville to see my dear friend…I don’t know where I’d be without Routes. They do a great thing.” Ethel says. For four years now, Ethel has been grateful to the volunteers of Routes who make her weekly visits to her friend possible. “I fill up her bird feeders, I knock on her windows, I chat with her,” says Ethel, “I see that big smile, and that makes it all the worth going”. For Routes volunteers, knowing that a friendship as close and long lasting as Ethel and Mary’s can continue to grow over 30 years, is what makes it all worth while.

There’s nothing better than creating a nice, wholesome meal in the kitchen with friends. Cooking together is something that has brought people together for centuries, and eating together bonds friends, families, and strangers alike. Starting in April, Georgina senior residents (ages 55+) and youth (ages 12 – 15) can sign up for Intergenerational Cooking classes . This initiative aims to teach teens and adults to cook and shop for healthy, affordable and accessible food , while learning from one another and making new friends and connections. The program, coordinated by Routes Connecting Communities, is funded by The Government of Canada through the New Horizons for Seniors program and is a collaboration between Routes and Cori’s Catering. By facilitating the transportation to th e classes , Routes connects people to their community, enhances community engagement and helps create new social connections. Stressing the importance of the intergenerational aspect, “the whole premise is about having seniors and youth work together to bridge the gap between them,” says Cori, the Executive Chef of Cori’s Catering. “For example, there might be a senior who has skills to teach a student, and vice versa. We are going to pair them up that way so that maybe a senior that has only seasoned with salt will be paired with a student that has some ethnic cooking experience.” The young people offer vitality and our older participants offer the wisdom and experience that comes with having a few more years on this earth than our younger ones. On top of that, Cori and her team member Jen are also teaching the group about using local ingredients and cooking with non-processed foods. “ W e want to make things available to people who may not have that opportunity,” says Cori. “We want people to be aware of how wonderful our area is. We are surrounded by farms, so what we bring to these classes is knowing where your food is coming from. We want to educate both seniors and students that you can support local farms first. Wouldn’t a tomato taste so much better if it came from half a kilometre from here?” “We are educating that there is food outside of processed,” says Jen. “We show them that this is a real carrot, not a bag of pre-peeled. We encourage them with their knife skills, and then any food that we work with we have them try it to see that they like things they may not realize.” While they get paired randomly as strangers, Cori and Jen say many students and seniors look forward to catching up each session. Connection is so important for seniors, and the students provide a lively breath of fresh air for many participants. If you’d like to participate in one of the six four-week sessions, free of charge, contact Shelley at (905) 722-4616.

For many Routes Connecting Communities clients, the rides that Routes volunteers offer them are more than just a drive – it’s a service that offers reassurance, company, and independence. There are people who need to get to appointments, meetings, social outings, and run other errands that we typically take for granted when we hop into our car or on public transit. Routes offers rides to those who need a drive to essential places. Margaret has been a Routes client for about a year and a half. Her neighbour told her about Routes because she used to be a client well, and with Margaret’s regular health appointments, she thought it would be something that could help her out. Margaret is unable to take the bus, and like many people, knew that having to pay for regular cab rides would be financially straining. She was left looking to rely on friends and family, but then she found Routes and gave them a call. Routes was able to get her information and connect with Margaret’s aid, and set everything up in a few simple steps, quickly and easily. “Since I’ve been taking Routes, it’s been a blessing. Just a blessing,” says Margaret. “They pick me up, they wait for me, and they drop me off right at the doorway and pick me up at the doorway again next time.” She never has to worry about getting to and from an appointment safely, now that she has Routes. “I know that the person that is picking me up is going to get me there, and that I’m going to make it home safe. I’ve never had a problem, even in the bad weather,” says Margaret. She has never missed an appointment, or been late for one. While peace of mind is one thing Routes drives offers, they also offer a friendly conversation and some cheerful company. “We laugh, we joke, and we talk. They’re really good people,” says Margaret. “All of the drivers I’ve had are great people. I’ve gotten so used to driving with them that they’ve become friends. These people aren’t strangers – they are far from being strangers.” The drivers that she gets, even when they are new, quickly become friends during the drive to and from her appointment, which just means the world to Margaret. She always leaves smiling, and it’s a different relationship than the one you’d get with a cab driver. And, having Routes is much less stressful than having to rely on friends and family every time you need a ride. With Routes, you simply call, schedule an appointment, and the driver will be there for you to pick you up and take you home again when you’re done – no questions asked and with a smile the entire time. “Since I’ve found Routes, I don’t have to depend on anybody,” says Margaret, which makes her beam with confidence. To her, she has her independence while also having the reassurance that she will always make her important health appointments. There’s even been times where she’s needed a bit of extra help – such as a driver come into her appointment to walk her out – and all she had to do was call Routes to ask for special accommodation and the driver was able to give her a hand. “When it comes to something special, you just ask them and it’s no problem,” she says. “It’s an awesome, awesome company and the people are awesome,” says Margaret. Many organizations say they change lives, but when you talk to someone like Margaret, you really see the instant positive impact being a Routes driver has on those who rely on Routes rides. If you have free time, even just one day a month, consider being a Routes driver and helping others like Margaret with a reliable drive and a friendly conversation.

Getting out and about is not just about getting from point A to point B, it’s also about exploring, socializing, and experiencing new things. Routes Connecting Communities offers bus trips to take residents to areas they typically wouldn’t be able to go on a regular basis, such as shopping malls, Canada Blooms, and other fun places to visit. It’s easy to take for granted that many of us can hop in a car or on the Go train to visit places such as the Royal Ontario Museum, Ripley’s Aquarium, or simply to the mall to get some shopping done. Many residents don’t have that luxury and have circumstances that restrict them from easily going on big trips. Whether its age, income, illness, or maybe even something such as fear of driving on the busy highways, Routes offers options to those who can’t access experiences that are far away. The bus trips allow Routes the opportunity to connect clients and community members to life experiences. The bus trips are more than just a trip, they’re also a time for clients to go out and make new friends, as well as meet up with old friends they don’t get to see as often as they’d like. Being able to take Routes bus trips also helps aid with mental health, physical health, and helps combat feelings of social isolation. These trips allow clients to feel part of the community and go places that they normally wouldn’t be able to go to or see. For example, one rider had mentioned she hadn’t seen the Upper Canada Mall in over 30 years, and took her first Routes bus trip to the mall. She couldn’t believe how much it had changed! The bus trips also allow clients to form lasting friendships and create new memories. One Routes gentleman, who is 101 years old, went to the Royal Ontario Museum with his 100-year-old friend. It gave them a chance to connect over a new experience and enjoy a day out, exploring the ROM exhibits together. Clients often can be found smiling, commenting on how organized and easy the bus trip was, and enjoying the sights and sounds of wherever they go.

This is Henk & Helen’s Story

Volunteers are the backbone of any not-for-profit organization, and at Routes Connecting Communities, volunteers are absolutely crucial to the success of the organization’s mission. On average , Routes ’ volunteer drivers provide over 1,200 rides to 600 riders each month. These rides help provide people who are dealing with life challenges a way to get around through timely, safe , affordable and compassionate transportation. Volunteers drive clients in the comfort of their own car and provide friendly transportation to get clients to and from appointments, social outings, and essential services on time and safely. Some volunteers provide rides daily, while others provide rides on e day per month. Volunteers are able to choose their own schedule and provide rides as much or as little as they’d like to. “ When I retired, I wanted to give back to the community a little bit . ” says Joe, a Routes ’ volunteer driver . “So, I started looking for orga nizations that needed some help.” The great thing about Routes is that a little time goes a long way. Rides come in all forms and durations, which means if you are able to drive even once a month, you’ll be helping. Some rides take clients to social outings that take them out of their apartment where they are able to meet other people and get to go places they may not be able to get to on their own. Other rides are for relevant and critical services, allowing community members access to getting a reliable ride with the aim of supporting a healthy and vibrant community. Taking that one client to their daily, weekly, monthly, or even annual appointment goes a long way. Sally is another one of Routes’ dedicated volunteers. She was drawn to the program because she wanted to help those around her. She likes that she is able to use her own vehicle to drive members of her community to where they need to go . Mostly, she loves that she gets to help increase the quality of life of her clients by getting them out and about. “ Quite often, our clients don’t get out much ,” says Sally. “I will say ‘ Would you like to go home the scenic route?’ and invariably they say ‘ Yes please, I’d like to go the scenic route.’ So that makes their experience with R outes that much more pleasant.” When clients access Routes ’ services, they get not only a comfortable and friendly ride, they also get subsidized pricing that suits their needs. Common destinations include the Addiction Centre in Keswick , the Georgina Community Food Pant ry, Southlake Regional Health Centre and York Medical. Volunteers play a role in making lives of community members easier and stress-free. They help improve access to basic needs like food and medical support, they help enhance the social lives of the clients they drive, and ultimately help increase confidence, well-being, and resilienc y among the clients they work with. If you have spare time to offer a ride to someone in your community, become a Routes volunteer d river.